Written by Don Byrd
Houston Mayor Annise Parker has abandoned subpoenas targeting area ministers following a firestorm of national criticism and concerns about the possible violation of church-state separation. The Baptist Joint Committee’s Brent Walker joined several other Baptist leaders earlier this month in denouncing the original subpoenas, which sought communications including sermons from a handful of area ministers regarding a petition drive to repeal a recently enacted Houston ordinance.
Parker subsequently announced a change in the subpoenas to remove the reference to sermons, but yesterday dropped them altogether.
The Houston Chronicle’s report includes some expert perspective:
Parker’s decision represented the only viable political option, said University of Virginia law professor Douglas Laycock, a specialist in religious liberty law. Seeking so much material was inflammatory, he said, adding that much of what the city seeks can be obtained by other means.
“There was so little that seemed relevant and legitimate,” he said, “they were better to just completely withdraw them.”
Southern Methodist University political scientist Matthew Wilson said the mayor was bound to take flak locally for disqualifying a petition that sought to force a referendum on the ordinance, triggering the lawsuit. However, the subpoenas engaged a vocal group of national foes.
Kudos to the diverse group of Baptists who united around this encroachment against religious liberty and stood up for pulpit freedom and church autonomy!
